Epson PowerLite S5 lacks HDMI input

Epson has just dropped the Epson PowerLite S5 multimedia projector that comes with SVGA resolution and a brightness level of 2,000 ANSI lumens, all for the relatively attractive price point of $649. The PowerLite S5 weighs a rather light 5.8 pounds and is said to bring “versatility, power, and affordability to entrepreneurs, educators, and business professionals alike”. The S5 is also equipped with the latest generation of high aperture 3LCD (three chip) technology for vivid, sharp, and intense images, giving users fantastic color reproduction and detail.

While the Epson PowerLite S5 comes with HDTV support, displaying high definition material in clarity and detail in either 720p or 1080i resolutions, one mistake Epson made with the S5 would be excluding HDMI input, making both Xbox 360 and PS3 owners moan and groan while Wii gamers laugh and jump about in joy. On the other hand, there is a “Game” mode that lets you hook up the PowerLite S5 to a game console directly for a much larger than life gaming experience, all in the comfort of your living room.

Other key features include Instant On and Instant Off functions, letting presenters get up and running within 5 seconds, avoiding the delays that have plagued many a conference. In addition, you get the A/V Mute Slide function that turns off the sound and images instantly, creating a quick pause in the midst of a presentation while the speaker elaborates on a certain point. The flexible positioning of the Epson PowerLite S5 is also a boon, since the 1.3x digital zoom feature lets you project a large and clear image from both short and long throw distances. The Epson PowerLite S5 is now available at national retailers, pro audio/visual dealers, mail order, and PC resellers. Each $649 purchase comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

2 reviews or comments

Man, I need this…With traveling around for training and teaching this would be perfect. Low cost, and low weight…

EEJ Says: June 19, 2007 at 2:03 pm

For $650 I don’t think I would worry too much about an HDMI input.

In order to fix this, you can use an HDMI-DVI cable, but you obviously won’t get sound, since DVI only handles video.

Then again, I work for a company that does meetings all over the country, and whether large or small, we never use the audio from the projector.

You also mention in the article ““Game” mode that lets you hook up the PowerLite S5 to a game console directly”. This doesn’t sound like much of a feature to me, as how else would you connect a console to a projector? Have you run across a projector that wouldn’t accept a direct connection from a console? It’s usually the same connector as for any other video source…..

One great thing about projectors is they almost always provide a VGA input, and believe me, playing HalfLife 2 or Battlefield 2 on a high resolution screen that is 8′ (~2.4 meters) diagonal is something to envy, even if it isn’t full 1080p.